Since I started going to the chiropractor last May, I finally was getting some relief with the back pain I've had. I want to say I was at the lowest pain levels in the last year during August, September and October. I was able to cut my chiro appointments down to once every 3 weeks instead of once a week. But it was not to last.
In November, while my boss was on vacation in Hawaii, my work load doubled. I was lifting way more then I usually do and my back went out on me a couple times in that week. I have been in a lot of pain ever since. As my chiropractor always asks me on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst, where am I pain wise? Since November I have been mostly a 7. Maybe a 6 on a couple of those days. I have been going to my chiro once a week again. He is trying something else besides the normal adjustments. Plus he is having me do strengthening exercises for the muscle that is holding the joint that is causing all the problems. I would explain what my chiro has said is going on with my back, but I can't remember all the big words. But if you click here, this is an explanation of the joint and the issues it gives people (me).
I had a couple so~so days last week, better then the last 7 weeks, and then on Saturday, I felt awesome! It was really busy at work and I felt better then I have in almost 2 months. My pain level was down to about a 2. I can live with that! But again, it was not to last.
Today, I was in excruciating pain. Probably the worst pain I've been in since I've had back problems. I was at least an 8 on the pain scale. I was in so much pain, I had tears in my eyes and just wanted to cry. I even took one of my prescription Ibuprofen's. I have pain pills, but I absolutely hate taking pain pills, plus I can't take them while I am at work (I get really drowsy). I can hardly stand, sit, lay down, no matter what position I am in, it HURTS! And it not only hurts, but it hurts BAD! (I am in extreme pain as I sit here typing this....)
I have a chiro appointment tomorrow. My chiro knows I leave for Scottsdale in a couple weeks, and he will probably want to increase my visit's before I leave for a month (this is what he told me last week). I am worried about what is going to happen while I am in Scottsdale. I know I can't take much more of this pain, especially if it continues to be as bad as it was today.
I hate to say this, but if I can't get my back issue's straightened out, I just might have to leave the job I love. It is hurting me physically, to the point where I can hardly do anything anymore. When I say anything, I mean the things I need to do, like clean house, laundry (carrying laundry baskets) and as well as the things I love to do, like ride horses. I haven't ridden in a long time, but when I do start riding again, is the pain going to effect that? I can't have something like this bringing me down. The pain is already causing me to not want to do anything, because I hurt all.the.time!
I am thinking I might have to go to the doctor, but I keep wanting the chiropractic to help again, like it did before. Then I tell myself, what is the doctor going to do? I've already had x-rays, and since this is such a common type of back pain, what are they going to do? Prescribe more pain pills? I don't want pain pills! I don't want to cover up the pain, I want it to go away, permanently! After the nightmare I had with my doctor over my knee pain (they just gave me pain pills to deal with it) and I kept going back until they referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, where I finally got a diagnosis of a torn meniscus and a torn ACL. I needed surgery! Thanks doc! So I don't have the greatest faith in doctors.
I won't be able to do much until I get back from Scottsdale. So even though I am really excited to head down south, I am not looking forward to being in pain while I am there!
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31 comments:
I'm sorry you're in so much pain Cousin. Back pain and head pain are just about the worst. You must have a really high pain tolerance. I hope you find a solution so you don't have to leave your job. Hang in there!
Hope the chiro helps. I did PT for my back a while ago and have some good exercises - that I'm starting to use again as my back's been acting up a bit. Back pain is about the worst!
If you decide to go to a regular doctor, try skipping past the family doctor to the orthopedic surgeon if you can. If you can't, make it very clear to the family doctor that you are not interested in just masking the pain with medications but that you want true, permanent pain relief.
I love my chiro too and will always go to her first but sometimes, it just doesn't work. Once I had muscle spasms in my shoulder so bad I was constantly in tears. Nobody could make them stop. I went to an acupuncturist in a measure of desperation...and it worked!
Best of luck - being in pain sucks.
I feel you Paint Girl. Really really do. *hugs*
Much as I hate to say it, but maybe a muscle relaxer might help when you get home at night? Once the pain cycle starts, the muscles react, which pulls on your back more, which makes more pain, which makes the muscles spasm and pull more... you get the idea.
Thinking of you. Take care out there girl.
Awwww, here's wishing you all better!
I wonder, if you do see a doctor, if you can get some help to get some disability benefits. At least then you can have a little money coming in while you heal. I don't know what all the rules are. It's just not worth it to keep working in a job that could be doing permanent damage to your body. Take care.
That really sucks. :( That's where my husband's pain is too. If you have insurance you should see a pain specialist instead of a regular doctor. That's what he's doing. He's having a nerve burned that should stop the pain long enough for him to get his muscles built back up around the disc that are bulging. It lasts about a year I think.
I hope you can find some relief so you can enjoy Scottsdale. Have you tried ice? I don't know if that will help since it's in a joint and not really in the muscles. I was thinking the same thing about your job . . . it sucks that your back might cause you to lose it, but is it truly worth the pain? Or worth possibly making your pain permanent? I wish you weren't having to go through this.
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your back pain flaring up again. Back pain is such a constant, nagging and horribly painful thing :(. I know what you mean about Drs...some of them are just glorified prescription writers as far as I'm concerned...it's a pain (literally).
I truly hope your chiropractor can help you again, but you should also head to a Dr., just in case...maybe you can insist he actually treat you.
I know all about back pain and its no fun at all, kinda eats away at your life doesn't it. How you are feeling now, I feel like almost all the time since my accident. Oh I have good days, but bad days have become the new normal.
Go you to your real Doctor before you have to switch jobs. Explain to him you need a better answer than pain pills, see if he will give you a referral for some Physical Therapy or to see a specialist. PT can work sometimes where chiro just can't. They like to think they can but sometimes its just a temporary fix.
Sounds to me like you got something else going on there other than joint trouble. You might need an MRI or something to see if you have some disc damage or something like that. You might also need some significant time off to heal properly, so be prepared for that.
Sorry your feeling so crappy I certain don't wish the way i feel on anyone else.....
If you want to try something different, look into a chi machine. A few years ago I was to the point where I couldn't even sit a trot, had to post, and there was no way I would even attempt a lope. Now my back doesn't bother me. Just google chi machine to find out more.
I'm sorry, it's terrible to live with pain. I dealt with neck pain for two years and if I didn't go to the chiro three times a week I couldn't function off of my pain pills. It hurt to do anything, I was a grouchy wife and mom, cooking meals even made me miserable.
I started yoga about a year ago and for some reason that was the cure. I wish it would keep my rib from popping out but that's a whole other issue! And Thankfully yoga at home is a whole lot cheaper than those chiro visits were.
I hope you find some relief soon and a doctor that can solve this.
I understand your pain completely! I also have sacroiliac pain. It was minor and flaired up when I would trim hooves (from bending over to much), but when I became pregnant, it got 10 times worse! I couldn't bend over even slightly and pick my foot up off the ground. It is excruciating pain! Unfortunately, from what I've read about it, a lot of the pain is caused from loosened ligaments surrounding that joint, which normally only has a very very small amount of movement. Loosened ligamments allow that joint to move more and it hurts ALOT! Not being pregnant anymore, it doesn't hurt as much, but still hurts some. I haven't trimmed hooves since, but I am dreading getting back to it. I don't think my SI joint will ever be the same again.
Couple of things. As Mrs Mom , said a muscle relaxant with the pain meds might help break the cyle. Also do you sleep on your side ? if so prop a pillow between your knees , to beeter align your spine.On your back put the pillow under your knees to extend the low back (it makes a big difference . I have had cronic back issues for yrears ,and I soo sympathise with wqht you are going through. The last resort for me was a cortisone injection in my sciatic joint (hurt like hell but it helped ) the excesises and a great help .Also a back support belt when you are working . SOrry if this seems bossy , I just feel for you and want to help
^^^What Kara said about the ligaments!
I don't 'do' pain meds unless I am in tears either.
If you have a doctor, I would definitely recommend going and having some tests done. If the chiro isn't helping, there has to be something else going on. Don't mess around kiddo, you don't want to end up permanently crippled.
In the meantime, might I suggest something that has really helped me with my back and related aches and pains? MSM! I take 4-6000 mg's of MSM a day. I get mine at GNC because their MSM capsules are made with the granular type of MSM. The granular MSM seems to work better than the powder form. I have also started taking vinegar twice a day. I buy the organic, cold-pressed Apple Cider Vinegar. 1Tblsp with 6-8 oz. of water and a 1Tblsp of Honey. It isn't yummy, but it's not that hard to get down either. A couple of swallows. Both vinegar and MSM are natural anti-inflammatories and help improve tendon and ligament health.
I always hate to sound like one of those health food nuts and I resisted trying this stuff myself for a long time, but last fall I ached so badly that I couldn't even sleep and extra-strength pain killers didn't even touch it. I finally started the MSM and about a month later I started the vinegar. I still have a few days of aches and pains and I still have to go to the chiro when my back slips out, but it is nothing like it was before. And if I get to feeling better and forget to take it for a few days, I sure can feel the difference.
As a bonus, now I know that what I feed my horses actually has benefits-LOL. Hope ya get to feeling better soon. :-)
I hate to hear you are having so much trouble with your back. You're too young to be having such issues. Not that saying that helps you but it concerns me what you will be dealing with later if you're having these kinds of problems now.
No short term fixes for me. I know that recurrent back pain usually is a result of weakness and that can only be fixed with proper exercise. You mentioned the chiro was starting you down that road and physical therapy would do that as well. I finally convinced my husband to get a referral for it and he finally got to be pain free. The catch is you can't stop the exercises just because your back feels good. If you want to continue pain free, the exercises must continue for life but by doing that you can avoid going back to a bad situation.
I sure hope you can get some relief and get this figured out so you don't have to deal with it your whole life. That would really suck!
Oh no! I'm so sorry. Living with pain is no fun at all. I have hip displasia and I had two ruptured discs about 17 years ago (went through surgery to fix) and I also occasionally suffer from pinched nerves that radiate through my lower back, through my hips and down to my calves. I sympathize with you how impossible it is to get relief no matter what position you try.
Between stretching exercises and taking a Triple Flex blend of Glucosamine, Chondroiten and MSM supplement (2 per day) over the past 17 years, along with a Fish Oil supplement (2 per day) my pain is now bearable.
Our vet saved our first German Shepherd's life when she developed hip displasia at 8 years old and was unable to run and barely walk. Instead of surgery or pain meds, she told us to start using fish oil (this was over 25 years ago, before join supplements became all the rage). It was amazing what a change that gave our sweet girl. She was able to run, jump and enjoy life for another 6 years.
A few times I've stopped taking the Triple Flex and within a few days BAM! the pain comes back where I can barely walk at all.
It does take about 1-2 weeks for it to kick in, but if you're not taking a Joint supplement already, maybe this is something that may work for you, too?
Muscle relaxers are also a great help until the joint supplement kicks in or if you are especially ouchy.
I seriously don't know how folks get relief from chiro treatments, though. Because the few times I've went to different chiro doctors, I've actually felt worse. No relief at all. I think I read somewhere that too much chiro can actually damage the tissues and joints. Our bodies just were not meant to be forced into position. A better idea is to work on building a strong core and doing lots of stretching with breaks in between for the muscles to relax and rebuild memory.
After my ACL surgery, my body had forgotten how to do the things I used to do, like walk up and down the stairs. My physical therapist said that's because the ligaments tissues, muscles and joints had been damaged and needed to relearn how to work normally again.
Of course, you probably alraady know this because of your own ACL surgery....and boy! doesn't it take a long time to heal? :)
Hang in there, my friend. And thanks for writing to me recently. You're so sweet and I'm glad you care.
I care about you, too. And I hope you can get to the bottom of this pain so you can live a full, pain-free life again soon.
XOXOX
~Lisa
Sorry to hear you're in so much pain! I know how much that must suck... I've been going to the chiro now for quite a few months for a neck issue I have and it's really helped me. Hopefully when I'm able to stop going so often it'll keep feeling better.
I hope you'r able to get it figured out one way or another. Pain pills are definitely not as good as having the pain gone!
Feel better soon!
Achieve1dream~ Yes I do ice! This is actually the only thing that gives me some temporary pain relief. Besides the joint giving me problems, it is also the muscle that holds that joint in place, that is why my chiro has me doing strengthening exercises.
Fernvalley~ I am a side sleeper. My chiro also told me to put a pillow between my knees while I sleep. I did for awhile, but found that since I move so much in my sleep that it was not the most comfortable way to sleep. I will give it another try though!
Susan~ I will google the chi machine to see what it is. Thanks for the tip!
Kara~ Besides the joint giving me problems, it is also the muscle that is supposed to hold the SI joint in place. That is why my chiro gave me strengthening exercises to work on. He just told me tonight that we might be going the Physical Therapy route when I get back from Scottsdale.
To everyone else~ Thank you for all your advice! I will be making an appt with my DR when I get back from Scottsdale.
Also, I was taking a joint supplement, but I am not the best at remembering to take it. I will pick some more up and take it every day! At this point I will do almost anything to get rid of this pain!
Oh I am sorry you are hurting:( I sure hope you find a fix. Scottsdale!? I live about 3 1/2 hours from there. It should be warm. Goodluck:)
Argh! I had a good comment, long though, and I lost my connection!! I'll try to remember what I was saying....
IMO a lot of docs brush back pain aside because SOOO many people have it and it can be caused by SUCH a variety of things.
I've been having a lot of success with my chiro, and lately she's added acupuncture.
I saw your response about the pillow, I'm a side sleeper too. I find that the pillows that are shaped to cradle your head tend to stay in place better. Also they do make special "knee pillows" and some even have a strap (I haven't tried those though)
I think Mrs Mom & BEC had good suggestions about muscle relaxers and joint supplements (I may have to try what BEC suggested!)
I hope you feel better soon, and more importantly that you don't have to quit your dream job!!
I'm so sorry to read about your pain. I manage a TB farm for 8 years and there were days I couldn't get out of bed. As soon as I left... no pain.
Oh, Paint Girl, I am sorry to hear this. I hope you feel better soon. I can't help but think that some of it is stress related. You love your job, but it is physically taxing and you probably know it in your head when you are doing too much yet you keep going. Your body is saying, STOP! I hope you get relief soon. Especially the time relief you need to get back with your own horses. The relaxation you will get with them might loosen up your back. Really, it sounds crazy, but I feel so much relief from stress when I am with my own horses. Feel better soon!
I do know what severe back pain is all about and I am going to tell you something I learned about mine. We got a Tempurpedic mattress and that has helped to line out my spine. Yes, they are expensive, but pain is expensive too, plus it ruins your life. I hope you get to feeling better soon and take it easy in Scottsdale, but I know that probably isn't possible. Good Luck!
I'm so sorry you are having such pain. I hope you are able to figure it out soon.
re comment by KT Sparks: our son and DIL just got a Tempurpedic mattress and are raving about it. DIL has had several surgeries and has I think 4 fused discs. We are also considering one. Might be something to look into.
I'm wondering if you've talked to your employer. Maybe you can change up your job some so you at least aren't lifting anything heavy. You do need to protect yourself from doing further damage. Things always eventually got better when I was younger, but it all adds up until one day, you just don't recuperate. Don't let yourself end up in that situation. It always sounds like you are so good with ground work. I hope you can do more of that and less heavy labor.
I hate to hear that you are in so much pain. My brother has been thru a lot with his back in the last few years, too.
I know you don't like doctors, but maybe you should see a spine specialist -- they do exist. You may have something more going on than a chiro can handle. And if you have to have surgery.....well....you have to have surgery. I hope you find an answer and get some relief!
Cousin, some good advice here, but I just HAVE to share mine. I had bercidus (sp?) in both shoulders, was in pain for a year...doing physical therapy. Only got worse. My hubby was going to a "Physio Therapist" and suggested I give him a try. Well, after about 8 treatments I have not had a flare up again! This was over a year ago. I will swear by it, and I used to see a ciropractor alot. Also, do you wear a back brace at work? I think that would help support you while lifting. I really hope you get better soon...sorry you're going through this luv!
Paint Girl, I am so bummed for you. That really sounds AWFUL. Have you tried any homeopathic remedies? I hope you don't have to leave your job! It is hard to find a job you love!! At least your spirit is not compromised! I'm Sending you good healing thoughts so your back become horse-strong!!
AHH man! That so stinks!! I know your pain and I unfortunately have to rely on the pain pills until surgery :( That joint pain just causes the worst dull stabbing ache!! I deal with that along with my other back issues and is is so very distressing and depressing when it starts to interfere with the things you need to do and the things you love to do!
I hope this gets under control soon!! I'd hate for you to have to leave this job you love so much!!
Cousin B~ I have tried a back brace, but due to how low the pain is, when I wear the brace, the brace slips up every time I bend down and I am having to constantly pull the brace down, which causes more discomfort with it slipping all over. I have tried adjusting it lower, tightening it, loosening it, but to no avail. It just makes it way more uncomfortable for me.
I work at Absorbine, please email me at sblack@wfyoung.com. I want to send you some product for your back and your horse.
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